The population of Gaza has decreased by 6 percent since the start of the Israeli assault nearly 15 months ago, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). Around 100,000 Palestinians have fled the enclave, while over 55,000 are believed to have died due to the ongoing conflict. Of those, approximately 45,500 fatalities have been reported, with more than half of them women and children. An additional 11,000 Palestinians are still missing, the PCBS said, based on figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The current population of Gaza stands at 2.1 million, a decline of around 160,000 people since the war’s onset. Nearly half of the remaining population, about 47 percent, are children under 18 years old. The bureau described the assault as a brutal aggression targeting both human lives and vital infrastructure, with entire families being wiped out.

Leading human rights organizations have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing the country of committing genocide due to the scale of destruction and death, as well as the denial of essential services like humanitarian aid. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Pope Francis have suggested that Israel’s actions may amount to genocide, though Israel has repeatedly denied these allegations, asserting its right to self-defense against Hamas.

The blockade has severely restricted the flow of aid, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In the northern part of Gaza, an even tighter siege has been enforced since a renewed ground offensive by Israel in October. The region is now facing a looming famine, with residents enduring constant bombardment and destruction of key medical facilities.

According to the PCBS, 22 percent of Gaza’s population is experiencing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, including 3,500 children at risk of dying from malnutrition. Additionally, around 60,000 pregnant women are at significant health risk due to the crumbling healthcare infrastructure.

The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, with tens of thousands now living in makeshift tents in open-air camps, struggling to survive amid dire conditions.